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Background :
Out of
total geographical area of 44.23 lakh hectares,
about 50% area is severely affected with the
problems of erosion, alkalinity, salinity and
water logging. Soil erosion occurs mainly due to
water and wind. The soil erosion through water
occur mainly in the areas falling in Shivalik
foothills and in Araveli ranges. It is estimated
that about 5.50 lakh hectare area is
affected with this problem. About 12 lakh
hectare area is affected with wind erosion which
occur mainly in sandy and dry belt areas of the
State. An area of 2.32 lakh hectare is affected
with the problem of alkalinity and 2.55 lakh
hectare with salinity and water logging.
To control the
menace of these problems several
External/Centrally/ State sponsored schemes are
being implemented in the State. Under these
schemes, Soil Conservation measures are taken up
on watershed basis. The measures include
construction of check dams, water harvesting
structure, gully control, percolation
embankments, diversion bunds, vegetative
measures etc.
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The implementation
of watershed development schemes helped the
farmers in checking their land to further
degradation. The harvested rain water helped in
providing life saving irrigation to rainfed
crops. These measures also helped in conserving
the moisture in-situ in dry belt areas. With the
adoption of these measures, the underground
water level which is fast deputing has been
checked.
Objectives :
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To
prevent the land degradation by adopting multi
disciplinary integrated approach.
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To improve the land
capability and moisture regime in watershed.
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To reduce the surface run
off.
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To upgrade the skills in
planning and execution of land development
programmes.
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To improve farm water
management.
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To increase the water use efficiency.
Ø
To conserve moisture
in-situ.
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To restore ecological
balance through scientific management of land
and rainwater.
Ø
To reclaim alkali affected soils and
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To improve soil structure by adopting soil
conservation measures including gully
control, percolation embankment
construction of check dams, stock ponds
diversion
channel, water harvesting structures by
vegetative measures etc.
Soil Conservation measures:
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1
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Vegetative
measures
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The vegetative cover provided to denuded
soils helps in shielding the soil cover
from water erosion.
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2.
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Agro-forestry
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Besides checking water erosion, it helps
in catering the need of fodder, fuel and
wood of the local community.
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3.
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Rainwater is harvested which helps in
recharging the ground water table. The
stored water even helps in providing
life saving irrigation in rabi crops.
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4.
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Gully plugging, check dams, crate wire
structure, loose boulder structure
Earthen structure
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These measures help checking land
degradation, soil erosion, bank
stabilization, reduction in run-off.
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Land Reclamation
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Application of gypsum in alkali affected
soils helps in reclaiming the affected
soils. High pH value of soil is brought
down at normal level. Toxic salts are
leached down to sub soil layer beyond
the reach of crop root zone. Soils
become alkali mainly done to the
presence of toxic carbonates and
bicarbonates of sodium and calcium
salts. The electric conductivity of
alkali soils ranges between 2.5 to 4
mm numbers. Whereas, the cation
exchange capacity of sodium salt is more
than 15%.
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Water Management:
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1.
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Sprinkler irrigation system.
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The
sprinkler irrigation system is
scientific technique as water saving
device. The use of sprinkler irrigation
system saves precious water. More area
is brought under cultivation fertilizer
and pesticides can be sprayed uniformly.
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2.
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Under ground pipe line
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The system is quite affective where flow
irrigation is required over traditional
method of flood irrigation. Water losses
through evaporation and transportation
are reduced to nil. The system once laid
can remain affective for many years.
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